House of the Cork Oak

The goal was to design a family house in the shade of a century-old cork oak. Our approach to the site and the brief is hinted at by the very name of the project: "House by the Cork Oak" and not "House of the Cork Oak." The leafy tree is the most prominent element on the entire plot.
The plot, approximately 730 m² in size, is located in the small village of Figueiró-Amarante. The access road is narrow and is bordered by fences, walls, and small buildings.
The resulting design was influenced by the proximity of the mature cork oak, which it respects and strives for mutual harmony. Likewise, the house maintains a distance from the road and neighboring buildings. At the same time, it preserves the service road on the western side of the plot and borders agricultural land on the southern side. Sunlight and the overall character of the landscape also played a key role in the design.
The northern façade facing the street is completely closed. Only a semi-transparent entrance part protrudes from the compact mass, while to the south, the house opens wide to the adjacent garden and views of the landscape. The upper part of the house (cork cladding) slightly expands compared to the ground floor (brick wall). It approaches the stout cork oak but respects its sprawling crown and utilizes the shaded space, which serves for an outdoor extension of the living area.
On the opposite side of the house, the structure adapts to the existing buildings. It steps back from the original development and has only one floor, allowing for the creation of a terrace with a small pool. This terrace is connected to a longitudinal balcony, from which there is direct access to the individual bedrooms.
Movement within the house is smooth and clear. The central living space, with a height spanning both floors, contributes to better orientation, from which corridors lead to three bedrooms on the upper floor.
The house strives for harmonious coexistence with the cork oak, showing it due respect, without jeopardizing its further growth, while simultaneously gaining maximum experience from its proximity.